Sunday, June 3, 2012


I’m pretty sure it has been close to two weeks since I’ve written.  I’m very sorry.  The last day of school was a week ago from yesterday, and the high school graduation was a week from today.  We had a cool weather for the school picnic, but the kids still had fun.  The graduation was cool as well with sprinkles of rain, but it was a very nice graduation.  The kids all looked very stunning and gave different from each other, but excellent speeches.  It was so hectic with rain, everyone inside, and so much family here that I didn’t do very well on my pictures.  

This week has been nigh unto cold, but today we have some sunshine for a few minutes.  The mountains have dark, scary looking clouds rolling down over them. 

We’ve had lots of family around for graduation.  Joel Milliron with his wife and step children has been here all week.  His new family is all really sweet.  We’ve had Emily and Leo Nerbonne and Dick and Pauline Jepsen plus Jake and Phanta were here last weekend and they’re coming back again this weekend. 

It has been a busy week with everyone working nearly every spare minute on details for the upcoming youth camp.  Jarred built outdoor shower houses – two houses with two sides each; one is by the tack shed and one is behind the wellhouse.  Merlin put in the plumbing.  Yesterday Kelly and some of the girls painted the shower houses.  Some kids have tried out the shower houses and are very impressed with them (mostly with unlimited water for their shower).  Food has been being madly prepared and frozen, activities are being prepared for, and the schools set up as dorms.  We have less than a week to finish getting ready.

Bro Dan Riccardelli dropped in on Thursday night to approve our plans.  He was happy with everything.  Garth has done a lot of work with schedules and coordinating to have everything run as smoothly as possible.  I’m sure we might have some glitches, but they should be small ones, if at all.  J  Bro Dan is now going to some of the other Alaskan communities before coming back here for camp.

Tony and his boys with some girls now and then have been planting the fields and fertilizing.  It has been long days for them (and they get so dirty!!!).


Bro Rus, Wendy, and Kathy have given out the hanging flower baskets from the greenhouse.  Yesterday they gave out beautiful 6-paks of flowers for all of us to bring home to decorate our homes.  We’ve been eating peppers out of the greenhouse for a couple of weeks now.  We are impatiently awaiting the first tomatoes!


Last night the Mitchells should’ve arrived for a few weeks. 

Erica is coming out for a few days this weekend to see everyone before she flies toTacomaWA. She and Darrell are expecting a baby boy some time in the fall.

The Lupos are throwing a baby shower for Rebekah today.  The Nerbonne/Jepsen girls plus a few others are going in to that. 

Stacey and Bethany Chartier were here for the graduation.  The spent a week here visiting and taking care of Wenda’s painting jobs and such.  Wenda took them back toAnchorage since they fly out from there; she will be bringing Miss JoAn back from the airport when she comes.

Ann and Merlin and kiddos have gone to the West Coast to visit Merlin’s family and to site see and investigate the West Coast’s terrain and such.  I’ve heard from Ann once, and they are having tons of fun.  She also said to tell everyone from here hello. 

Bonnie and Jim are in Anchorage this weekend.  Jim had to see a Dr. in down there. Pam Gorman came out to stay with grandma Irene while they are gone.

John Clark, son of Judy and Bob Clark from Hoonah, has come to stay with us for the summer while he picks up jobs to save money for his winter schooling. Hope Margraft is here for a month as well.

Cathy P has gone to the dr a few times in preparation for her knee surgery on June 12.  The dr found an abnormality with her the t something on EKG.  She had to get another test, and it showed the same abnormality.  I don’t know what that means or how it will affect her surgery.  I guess we’ll find out sometime. 

Penny Clark (Geyer) has been with us for a few days.  She’s been in the states for several months to take care of her dad, then to take care of her dad’s affairs after her father passed away.  Now Penny is on her way back to Fairbanks.  It has been really good to have her around. She will probably be moving into the Delta House for a bit and finding a job locally. We are all happy to see her, especially her family and nieces here at the farm.

Garden planting will probably be on Tuesday night; first youth camp arrivals start coming in on Monday night.  You many not hear from me again for awhile.  But… one never knows. 


A number of ball games have been played informally. Rob has been practicing his catching and batting. He is pretty stoked about the camp and tells me he wants to sleep in the school with the other campers....hummm...we'll see.
  












On the Buongiorne home front, all is well. Rob gets a few hours a week for summer school and we concentrate on math, Reading, Phonics and Typing. We work together on various chores around the community during the week. Housekeeping and tending flowers mainly. He is on domestic duty on the day I cook, which works out nicely for both of us. That way I can keep an eye on him, since he stays close to the Tab. 

Rob is getting quite strong physically and can help his dad stack firewood, albeit, reluctantly, but he can do a fair job of getting the stack of wood higher in the wood shed. 

Pat is busy with piano work off and on, and when he's home he continues to supply cabins with their winter supply of firewood. 

May is busy with the garden and I hardly see her, she is so busy with all that entails working in the garden and making sure the produce gets to the kitchen when needed. Seems like back breaking work to me, oh the joys of being young....

Ani has 9 new baby bunnies to contend with. The ones from her Mini Rex Aggie are very cute with fur like a velveteen pelt. She hopes to take them to town and sell them soon.

Have a great week.  I’ll try to send pictures or something, if I’m too busy to write.  But, don’t hold your breath. 

Sunday, May 13, 2012


A message from Sarah

Happy Mother’s Day

To all you mothers!



I made several mistakes in my last email so I will attempt to correct a few of them. http://youtu.be/8Ei9XV0Lf1w  Since giving out that link, Jeremy has uploaded the Whitestone Choir video.  Here it is for those interested.  http://youtu.be/xeN6o0jKTLM Oh, and while I’m posting things from Jeremy Austin, he posted a tribute to Nyron Wheeler; here’s its link:  http://youtu.be/64tlfAaHBwo  

Also, I said that Patrick was in Wasilla tuning pianos; he was in Cordova, which I knew…. I don’t know why I typed the wrong thing!  And, the dogs that attacked Bethany Buongiorne and her babies and friend were St. Bernards.  Griselda has links on her facebook page that tell a little about the situation if anyone is interested and if you are Griselda’s fb friend. 

We had a few medium nice days.  Yesterday afternoon, it looked like snow was rolling in.  It became very cold and there was snow falling on the mountains.  Then a fierce wind storm blew in – the kind that makes your head hurt to hear it.  Around 6 am, the wind dissipated.  The silence was golden!  But, now… I hear a few gusts again.  We really don’t need the wind blowing while we are trying to rearrange dirt and pick up trash today!  It needs to go away.  But, at least the sun is out!

Josiah Lum Guo Guang who is visiting Whitestone came out here a few days to visit us.  He is from the Malaysian group – he knows Pauline Nng and others that we all know.  He was a lot of fun – since everything Alaska is very new to him, we were able to “pull his leg” many times.  And, he loved it all.

One of the mares had a colt the other day.  I haven’t made it there to view it and no one will tell me what kind of colt it is (because they haven’t seen it).  But, I see other people going to view it all the time!  Someone must know. 

Bro Steve S had a mostly positive report on his bum ankle – no necessary surgeries or anything like that; he is supposed to take it easy and refrain from doing things injurious to it such as washing and drying dishes and the like.

Thomas and Brad went to the Soldotna area for some meetings.  They were gone for a few days.  But… they are home in time for the clean up day.

Meghan came out for a few hours, bringing Olivia with her.  It is very nice to see them.

Well, I better make breakfast.  Have a great day!  And, hope you moms get a tiny bit of spoiling today. 



Sara,

Friday, May 11, 2012

MAY NEWS SO FAR, COOL AND WINDY


Morning!  It’s been awhile again!  It's been hectic as usual..

We’ve had a gray, cool week.  Yesterday, the sun came out for a little while and warmed our souls and bodies.  Right now it is 20° and appears to be sunless again. 

I kept getting up and looking for that super moon that was supposed to be out last weekend.  I never could see a thing.  Maybe it was too low on the horizon for us?  I did go across the road with my friend Sara real early in the morning to look for bird pictures.  It was colder than I thought but lovely anyway.  We saw the sun come up over the Mts, and we did see some birds. 

The yearly Williams wood stacking was a success. I think the kids et all, stacked 2 semi loads of wood. Now that is a serious amount of wood!


A group from the farm went to Whitestone graduation, I think Mark Coy put out a bunch of pictures in case any of you are interested.  I think you can see them here:

Last Wednesday, another group went  over to the Whitestone Band performance.  I have to say it was well worth attending.  It was not only the students who performed but some legendary (like the use of that word?) musicians whom we all know but don’t often get to hear – Tina Miller, Tommy Miller, Becky Riche, John Hasz, Amanda Brown, and many more.  I have pictures which I haven’t posted (I had a limited view), but Jeremy posted a clip of it.  Eric Eads got a standing ovation for a piece he did on the cello.  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150794112519755.407575.595119754&type=1

This coming Sunday, we are having a farm clean up day so no church for all of you who attend.  You can still come a use a rake and get some fellowship on the side.  J  Yes, we do realize that is Mother’s Day, but what better way to honor the mom’s than to help us clean!  I love it!

The count down has begun – one week till the graduates are out of school, two weeks till graduation, four weeks till youth camp! Many preparations still have to be put into place.

Last week sometime we heard that Bethany Buongiorne and a friend were out walking with the baby girls.  Two St. Bernards appeared and attacked them.  The ladies were able to protect the little girls but Bethany’s friend was mauled pretty good.  A guy across the street came over and helped the ladies out and called Animal Patrol, otherwise… who knows what would’ve happened. Thank God for his guardian angels who come in various forms.

The twins are getting so big! Starting to walk and chortle. The little family is doing well. Pat is working with the fire crew - there is a big fire season forecasted for this summer - pray everybody stays safe! Ironic to think that we do want to fires for the $$ they provide which is much needed, but at the same time we do not want the destruction and danger they bring with them.

Allyson Squires graduates today from the online schooling she has been doing all winter. I believe she is getting a degree in Emergency Care Nursing. I heard that she will be wearing a cap and gown in Tok.  Hope someone gets a picture!

I think that Miss JoAn has gone away on a trip – maybe her yearly Wasilla/Texas trip.  Somehow I’ve missed that announcement, and I miss her.


Patrick recently spent a grey, wet week in Cordova tuning pianos.  He is home now. Rob was very helpful with the water and wood hauling. He is getting to be quite strong and he likes to remind me while flexing his muscles! funny guy... :)

Olivia has completed her nursing care classes.  She will be going to Fairbanks for an internship.  I don’t know how long she will be gone.

Well, I should get ready for the day ahead.  Have a great weekend!  

Monday, April 30, 2012

JUNEAU SCHOOL TRIP 4/2012


Family and Friends,



We are back on "Terra Fermi"after our whirlwind 5 day school trip to Juneau Alaska!! All in one piece too…just saying…ha!

I say this after 10 grueling hours in a packed 15 passenger van driving to Haines Alaska, on the Alaska Highway, plus 5 hours on a transport ferry from the Alaska Marine Highway System, to Juneau. Then doing it all over again on our way back to Tok, Alaska. OK…now you can look it all up on a map!

Rob and self were invited by the REACH ACADEMY (Resources for Educating Alaska's Children at Home)…it is the correspondence branch of the Alaska Gateway School District. Rob has been enrolled in it for a few years now. This is our second school trip event. It involved 5 days with 22 bodies….mainly home schooled students from all over interior Alaska (K to HS) and a few parents.

The main goals were:

  • enhance knowledge of our state capital
  • gain an understanding of Alaska statehood and history
  • stimulate interest in our legislature
  • examine SE Alaska, its people and history through on hand authentic experiences
  • leanr about the rich history of the Mendenhall Glacier system, observing glaciers, landforms, plants and animal habitat.
  • learn about our fishing industry mainly salmon, by visiting a hatchery


All in all I think we accomplished this and more. One of the highlights besides visiting the state capitol building, was a crab bake all you can eat of Dungeness crab…a local caught them and prepared them for all of us (22 of us!), I have never eaten so much fresh crab "on the hoof"…

Another highlight was the ferry from Haines to Juneau. We travelled on one of the Alaska Marine System ferries called the "LeConte"….a 499 passenger vessel, equipped with lounges, state rooms, kitchen, movie room, etc. Comfortable and friendly service. The scenery on the bay and passing coastline was breathtaking as always in Alaska. We spotted a few whale flukes, eagles, mountain goats and Stellar seal-lions in the distance. This is not a sightseeing vessel since it carries vehicles as well, so we were not as close to the coast as we would be when traveling on the other type of ferries…but a great experience nevertheless.

Rob passed the 5 hours coming and going by visiting anybody's table who had kids with them. He makes friends easily. I would look around for him and find him  invariable surrounded by kids I never had seen before! They were giving him candy, lending him ipods, cameras - err.....ok Rob, better give that back...haha, or he would make his way to tables with older men and shake hands with them and start chatting.


The crew was nice enough to let us up into the pilot's cabin and show us the very "state of the art" navigation system, all computerized full of gadgets and buttons. Rob perched himself on the captain's chair!

The first day in Juneau after sleeping in a hostel - quite the experience in itself - was spend just touring the city - all UPHILL- reminded me of Gibraltar which is also built on a hill....




....we also visited a shrine in honor of St. Theresa of Lascaux…at first I thought it was going to be St. Teresa de Avila, my favorite Spanish mystic…but this place was truly wonderful, peaceful, green and lush, with a quaint stone chapel…ideal for retreats which indeed it is used for.
We also went down to the windy beach and caught star fish that clung to the rocks, then we put them back of course…












In the afternoon we visited a salmon hatchery which was very interesting. I found out that salmon take about 6-10 years to mature. We saw millions of 6 in. long hatchlings which were already almost 2 years old! They do most of their growing out at sea and then the hatchery has ingenious ways of imprinting on the baby salmon so they come back upstream to the place they were born as adults!



Next day after sleeping on hard hostel bunk beds…ugh…haha…we continued touring the city. Visited the Alaska State Museum and learned about Alaska tribal heritage. Then went to visit the State Capitol Building and learned about legislature and the importance of understanding how different branches of the government work and how Alaska legislators work to keep this state such a unique one. The building is quite stately with Greco Roman marble columns and lots of polished oak, quite impressive. We met the Chief of Staff and she made sure all the kids got a turn on the Lt. Gov. chair! which I thought was nice of her. Robin even shook a senators hand, though I did not catch his name.


Our last day was spend on the Mendenhall Glacier which was fascinating. Karen, our very informed park ranger (an old salt by the looks of it - she knew her stuff)….told us all about the history of the glacier and pointed out interesting geological facts. The trail around the area is lovely. We were able to pick up glacier ice right out of the water! It is a popular stop for outdoorsy folks who actually go kayaking amongst the icebergs! There was a flowing waterfall as well.

I was wearing my sandals and got soaked. Reason: I forgot my shoes at the hostel and since policy demands that everybody be locked out from 9am to 5pm. I was not able to return to get my trail shoes….hum…well for $12 @ night one cannot make too many demands…

Next morning we all got up at 4am. in order to be at the ferry dock by 6am. and leave by 7am. We arrived at Haines around 12am. and then drove the straight 10 hours back to Tok. Pat was waiting for 2 very tired people (Rob and his mum) and we had another hour to drive back to the farm…so…we did not hit the sack until midnight.

Next day I rested up and then Sunday I cooked a curry for 90 souls….so…today I am still recuperating! ha!

Well, thought I would jot down some highlights before I forget them. I got many positive comments on how well Rob behaved which is always nice for a mother to hear. He is quite funny with his puns and comments and is getting the hang of what is appropriate and what isn't, although he tends to like to "flirt" with the ladies....which can be a hoot at times.

All in all, it was worth it. I got to see places in Alaska which I would not see otherwise. It would be cost prohibitive for us as a family. Last year the school took us to coastal Alaska and we went to the Seward Marine Aquarium and Sea Life Center which is one-of-a-kind, rivaling anything down in the L48 as far as sea critters are concerned. 

I am hoping that next trip will involve the Alaska Railway System Highway which is notorious for its breathtaking beauty along the route down to Wittier, Alaska. It combines with the Alaska Marine Highway to make a once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing experience enjoyed by tourists from all over the globe.

Hope you all have a great rest of the week. It's getting sunnier and warmer in Alaska...everything is starting to melt, but we know summer is round the corner.




Tuesday, April 3, 2012

INCLUDING AN UPDATE FROM SARA JEPSEN...


INCLUDING AN UPDATE FROM SARA JEPSEN, WITH NEWS FROM THE FARM AS WELL..



Hello folks.  It is 15° out but it is so gray and snowy that I just want to crawl back in my bed till the sun appears.  It has been snowing lightly and gray since Sunday – quite the April Fool’s joke to wake up to.  I know, it’s all normal (mom, I can hear your voice telling me that!).

My trip to Fish Lake was a success!  The guys hauled up grain, clean dish towels, oil, chain saw gas and oil, lumber (support beams), tools, and other such things needed for the fall hunting trips.  I didn’t have to haul anything except myself and my camera.  Good thing since that was hard enough for me.  We spent a lot of unnecessary time at Stone House because we had to unload the wood and redistribute the weight over four machines rather than on one machine.  It was thought that one machine was sufficient despite some of our doubts.  Once at Fish Lake, the guys spent some time making repairs on the cabin and hauling some of the lumber for a bridge to a spot that I never saw at the end of the lake.  Cody and I spent some time trying to get up to Farrin’s cabin.  Since the snow was waist deep, it was quite the trek!  Then Seth followed us with his machine and went right up there easily.  L   But, I was so sore on Sunday while I was doing Sunday cook that I couldn’t squat without having to squeak and groan!  Very unappealing, I know. 

Friday, Steve and Judy went to Eagle’s Ridge to pick up Bro George Harris who has been up in the area.  Bro George stayed with us through Sunday night, preaching on Sunday morning (which I missed because I was in the kitchen). 

Steve Houston arrived on Friday too and will be with us for a week.  I guess the loggers have been bugging Steve to come up so he could see their logging and milling expansions.  Steve has been as happy as a clam every time I see him.

Sunday was “home” day it seemed with George and Steve both here.  All the guys hung around for hours after the morning service and again after supper.  After supper, we pulled out hunting and salmon homemade dvds to show them.  It was a fun day.

Today is one more trip to Fish Lake to haul things up to the cabin.  It’s probably good that it is gray and snowy since it was really melting on Friday which made snowmachining difficult for a couple of reasons – no snow and/or slipping around in hard wet snow. 

Ethan and Jarrerd are flying out today to help Craig Milliron drive up here.  Craig will be staying up here for a couple of months to visit his family while finishing up his schooling.  Craig finished his stint in the Navy this spring. 

Rich and Liz are going to Fairbanks today to pick up Rus and Millie.

The loggers are madly trying to finish up their winter logging before the roads get too slushy and mushy.

I better get.  Talk to you later.  








STONE HOUSE

MONOLITHS






OUR FISH LAKE CABIN


BIG ALASKA




Friday, March 30, 2012

HARBINGER OF SPRING....???

Hi all!!!  Guess what?  The snow is melting!!!!!  Just a wee bit, but, yet, it is melting!  When I walk around, my feet sink into the snow a little bit.  It is a happy sign of spring.  Of course, I’m sure, the loggers wish for another week or two of cold weather.  Thomas has been hauling logs out of the logging site like mad, slipping and sliding on the muddy road.  Craig and Brad have been going out every day to fell and stack piles of logs!  Oh, and Pat B has been running the dump truck loaded with cut firewood to the across the creek people before the roads around here get too messy. 

It looks like I will get to snow machine with the “hauling” guys tomorrow.  I’m so excited!!!! 

Last week, I sold both SJ's and mine aged iTouches. We got some nice 4th. gen. ones one from ebay, I think, and one from Apple refurdb…I love it, so much faster!
We sure enjoyed Bobby and Cathy Owens last weekend.  They both preached on Friday night and again on Sunday morning.  They had many good things to say, but the theme was recover, redeem, restore with text being from all over the place but I remember the example of Sampson in Judges.  Miss Cathy had a good word on dew which backed up Bro Bobby’s word because dew is refreshing and restorative.  (Gosh, Kelly helped me with my “notes” on my itouch and now all my most recent notes have disappeared! Which included my church notes.  L) 

Jim and Bonnie have gone to Maine for a couple weeks’ visit.  Wendy is caring for Grandma Irene. 

Pat, Gri, May, and Robin went to Anchorage/Palmer last weekend to see Pat Lou, Bethany, and the twins.  A couple of pictures are included of Gri and Stacey Casey with the babies.

Andrew, Kylin, and Landon were out for a couple of days earlier this week.  Nothing like the grandchildren (with their parents, of course) coming home to visit.  Erica was out for a few days’ visit this week, as well.

I heard that Paul Lawrence was in the area one night this week while conducting research for his work in Anchorage.  I didn’t see him so maybe that’s a rumor.  


PatLou is taking some leadership classes for his firecrew job in Palmer. He is in Fairbanks, so Bethy and the girls are on their own for the week. I hear they were doing poorly, earaches and such. Pray for the little family if you they come to mind. Am sure it is tough being on your own espec. with 2 little ones demanding attention at the same time! I know it was tough for me when mine were sick but I always had somebody in the community close by...Praying for a quick recovery for the little angels. God bless !

Seth, Jarred, and Garth are in Salcha, again, for a few days working on that house that needed to be finished. 

Kimberli has gone up to Fairbanks to help Seth get moved out of his apartment since Seth has now been able to find work locally again!  Yay!

Ann and Merlin took Micah to Fbks for his intensive three day therapy treatment.  They are home now. 

The greenhouse has been opened up.  Wendy and Kathy Casey are busy every spare minute planting the vegetables and flowers we will need for this spring.

I will be sending along a link to the Dry Creek/Land youth camp registration form.  Send it along to anyone who you know is interested in coming.  Thank you.

Oh, the temperature was as high as 47° today.  Nights are still dropping to 0°. 
Rob has had the last of his therapists visit right after coming back from Anchorage. Everybody is feverishly trying to fill in paperwork I guess to close off this quarter. Him and I have been invited to the REACH Academy (Tok School's correspondence branch from the Alaska Gateway School D.) yearly Spring Field trip - this time to Jueany the state Capitol -  so we are gonna do that. 2 -15 passenger vans with kids, parents, etc. The students are all correspondence (home schooled) not the regular kids that go to the Tok school. Last year we did a trip with the special ed. branch of the school. This one is a bit different in that Rob is the only sped student, so it's quite an honor to be invited. Should be fun - minus the van travel which I loath…but it's a pretty drive, very scenic. Will take a ton of pics and post them up after the fact.
There's always a hitch to the silver lining, soooo…mine is that I am COOKING A COMMUNITY CURRY ( 80 hungry folks at least) pretty much right off the bat on the Sunday after we get back to the farm from our Juneau trip on Sat. so not much time to regroup the energy levels…but, oh well…can't be helped. Fortunately I knew about all this beforehand and have pretty much got all my meat cut up and chunked. I have been promised the special ingredients so hopefully all will be here when the day comes. Coconut, cashews, golden raisins, dates, pineapple, apples, mangoes and a nice salad of lettuce and tomatoes….hopefully! We will also make crescent rolls and have iced tea.

I better get to school.  Have a good weekend.  

Here's the link to the youth camp at The Land. It's a fillable PDF registration form.




Pat and May had not seen each other for a while...Esther being intrigued by her aunty May...

Lellie (Ellanor or Ella) enjoying some time with grampi Pat.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

MARCH MADNESS...


Many events during this month so far. Just a quick note to say hello and send a couple of things. 

The temperature has been nice throughout the day, but it has still been dropping down to -15 degrees at night.

A crew is going to Fish Lake again today to haul in supplies for hunting time.  Tony has invited me to go on Friday!  I’m so excited.  I hope it works out that I can go. 

We had a good time at the ice park last week. May very kindly offered to take Rob and chaperone him, so he had a grand time with all the high school kids.  I’m including one today, but hopefully, I’ll have more later.  We had an excellent time at Whitestone, as well, on Saturday.  I didn’t take too many pictures while there since I was too busy playing. 






I’m including a link of the Northern Lights.  It’s a short piece put together by Jon Bailey and Jeremy Austin from Whitestone.  I think it’s rather great!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjVwA1UKBzA&feature=colike


Pat, May Rob and self went down to Palmer to visit PatL, Beth and the girls. Very short but sweet! Here is a link to the photo album. It was nice to be back home on Sunday its a rather long drive from Anchorage but uneventful. NIce weather, the pass was a bit foggy and looked rather choppy at first, but soon cleared and our fearless driver got us home safe and sound. Thanks Pat F Buongiorne! LOvely time time with Bethany Buongiorne, Patrick Buongiorne, and the girlies. Lovely scenic Alaska mountains!